Controversial Meijer store opens, draws thousands

Meijer President Rick Keyes and other officials cut the red ribbon on the new Acme Township store. (Courtesy photo)

ACME TOWNSHIP, MI -- A second Meijer store opened in Grand Traverse County Thursday, drawing thousands of customers despite a 16-year battle that included fierce opposition to the project, an illegally funded recall campaign by corporate leaders and state investigations. New Meijer President Rick Keyes, who attended the ribbon-cutting and grand opening in the Traverse City suburb, said the retailer was glad to finally open the store. "We hope that our beautiful new store provides everyone a more accessible destination for their grocery and lifestyle needs year-round, so they can spend more time enjoying everything Northern Michigan has to offer," Keyes said in a statement. Acme Township Supervisor Jay Zollinger said anticipation had been building for the store opening, the 280 jobs it provides and the expectation that other it will draw other businesses. "It's a big deal," Zollinger said. "It's a sign of more things to come." Meijer first proposed a second Traverse City-area store nearly 15 years ago because its first location was one of if its busiest among the retailer's holdings. The plan quickly divided the community of 4,300, pitting those who wanted the convenience of a closer Meijer and others who worried about the environmental impact of big box development on the rural Northern Michigan community. But it was the family-owned retailer's role in secretly trying to oust an anti-growth township board in a failed 2007 recall effort that generated lawsuits, a criminal investigation and a

for violating state campaign finance law. That anti-growth sentiment, responsible for no new stores opening in a decade in the township, has mellowed in recent years. "I think we always are going to be a township that values growth but we want it in a nice organized way," said Zollinger, who has been supervisor for three years. "We don't want sprawl." The 195,000-square-foot store is about 15 percent small than originally envisioned by Meijer. It is the 223rd store for the retailer, and the last of 11 new Meijer supercenters that will open this year. Nearly half of Meijer's stores are in Michigan, and the remainder are spread across Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois and Wisconsin. The new store comes as the Walker-based retailer's is pushing into

after decades of expansion through other Midwest states. Located at Grand Traverse Town Center at 4900 M-72 East, the store is expected to serve the residents of the east side of Traverse City, Antrim and Kalkaska counties, and nearby villages like Rapid City, Elk Rapids and Williamsburg. The 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5 ribbon-cutting ceremony store included a $25,000 donation to Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation Trails, Inc. to help provide a network of trails, bikeways and pedestrian ways for local residents. "Our team has worked very hard to prepare for this opening, and we're excited to bring our store to this great community," store Director John Spaulding said. Shandra Martinez covers business for MLive/The Grand Rapids Press.